How to Make the King of Pops' Banana Puddin' Ice Pops

King of Pops’ Banana Puddin’ and Chocolate Sea Salt PopsPhoto by Renee Brock, Styling by Ashley Meaders for Once Wed

In the last post of this series, we continue to share the best of the artisanal ice pops trend with you by featuring stories and recipes from some of our favorite vendors nationwide. See previous ice pop coverage here.

“My brother’s a sucker for these farmers,” says Steven Carse. “He’ll pick up odd ingredients from the farmers’ markets because they talk him into it.” That is how Steven explains the experimentation that goes on in the King of Pops kitchen, which is rented by the hour in Atlanta, Georgia. One day, Steven hopes to have a brick-and-mortar pops shop (and kitchen), but for now he pedals his cart daily around Woodruff Park and the corner of North Avenue and North Highland. (That’s on the corner of the Buddy’s Gas station, right across from Manual’s Tavern, for those who live in Atlanta).

Why pops? A year ago, Steven was laid off from AIG. The extra time to daydream–plus visits to his oldest brother doing PhD work in Mexico spent nibbling paletas–lead to his self-imposed coronation.

Although Steven posts his ever-changing menus on Twitter and Facebook, some pops lovers who aren’t hip to social media fail to check before driving to the “the corner.” “Some people like the idea of our changing up flavors, some, well… I don’t know if I would use the word angry, but they’re not happy when they get there,” Steven says. So he tries to keep fan favorites–Chocolate Sea Salt, Blackberry Mojito, and Banana Puddin’–in the rotation. (Steven’s favorite flavors are Pear Cardamom–”I always get stuck on the newest one being my favorite”–and Blueberry Lemongrass.) We tried to get the Chocolate Sea Salt recipe, but there’s a special ingredient that, after putting their heads together, the brothers Carse decided they couldn’t bear to reveal. No matter. After the jump, find the recipe for the pop that Steven says represents his upbringing, the Banana Puddin’ Pop.